Questions, mainly about sponges, please help!

[Margoren]

Richard, first let me say, wow! thank you for all the goodies.

I read that sponges are almost impossible to keep, etc. so I want to make sure I try what's best for them.

Do they need to be in a shaded area or is light ok for them? Not much shade in my tank but if that is the case I will see what I can do...

Do they need high flow?

Do the fan sponges need to be potted, or do I just lay them in the sand? Can they be laid on rock?

What to they eat?

What kind of anemone did you send me? It moved next to the tree sponge... Do I just let the anemone be? by that I mean, let it pick its home in the tank?

And what kind of starfish is the one that looks sprinkled with chocolate chips?

And about the clam, is any place in the tank fine for it? What does it eat?

Thanks!

 

[liverock]

Richard, first let me say, wow! thank you for all the goodies.

Your welcome...see below

I read that sponges are almost impossible to keep, etc. so I want to make sure I try what's best for them.

Some live longer than others...enjoy them while you have them....you just can't feed them enough!

Do they need to be in a shaded area or is light ok for them? Not much shade in my tank but if that is the case I will see what I can do...

They are tolerant of any position in the tank...

Do they need high flow?

nope...just normal

Do the fan sponges need to be potted, or do I just lay them in the sand? Can they be laid on rock?

just lay in the sand.....or on the rock..

What to they eat?
filter feeders....

What kind of anemone did you send me? It moved next to the tree sponge... Do I just let the anemone be? by that I mean, let it pick its home in the tank?

Flower anemone I collect in the keys....he will go where he wants too....

And what kind of starfish is the one that looks sprinkled with chocolate chips?

Common gulf starfish from my aquaculture site!

And about the clam, is any place in the tank fine for it? What does it eat?

also a filter feeder, he will go where he wants also..

look here for ID's for things also..

http://tbsaltwater.com/thepackage/organisms.html

now we need some pics!

sea ya
Richard TBS
www.tbsaltwater.com



Thanks!

 

[d2mini]

The only thing I will add to the mystery of keeping the sponges is that in my tank some sponges "seem" to do better in low light. Or last longer, anyway. Could just be coincidence. Like Richard says, "we just can't feed them enough". That's really the main reason for their demise. They probably would do best in a seahorse tank or a nps tank, where you are feeding the tank a lot.